BERN NADETTE STANIS:
YOU CAN CALL ME THELMA
The first black sex symbol on television talks about
her new book, her fans and what keeps her looking
young after 30 years
YOU CAN CALL ME THELMA
The first black sex symbol on television talks about
her new book, her fans and what keeps her looking
young after 30 years
(March 08) Before the ladies of Girlfriends hit the small screen, there was Bern Nadette
Stanis. Portraying an intelligent, black woman in a time when we were still seen as mere
housemaids, Stanis’ character as Thelma Evans on Good Times solidified us for the first
time in a positive light.
While speaking with her on the phone, her voice was very warm and welcoming. Very
friendly. She still sounded the same just more mature as she should. Good Times was 30
years ago and she manages to still look the same. I asked her about her beauty secret later
in our interview.
Although it has appeared that Stanis has disappeared from the public eye, she states that
she has been extremely busy. Consistently working, she became a facet behind the scenes,
has appeared in several religious plays and has traveled the country as a motivational
speaker and lecturer.
Currently, she is promoting her latest project, Situations 101: Relationships-The Good, The
Bad…and The Ugly. In the book, she listed, you’ve guessed it, 101 situations that people
could possibly go through while dating or in committed relationships and offering her advice.
And she covered it all, from DL brothers to baby mama drama. The approach she took with
the book was what I expected from her: very understanding, far from condescending but
tough love all rolled into one.
She tells BSL why she wrote Situations 101:
Stanis. Portraying an intelligent, black woman in a time when we were still seen as mere
housemaids, Stanis’ character as Thelma Evans on Good Times solidified us for the first
time in a positive light.
While speaking with her on the phone, her voice was very warm and welcoming. Very
friendly. She still sounded the same just more mature as she should. Good Times was 30
years ago and she manages to still look the same. I asked her about her beauty secret later
in our interview.
Although it has appeared that Stanis has disappeared from the public eye, she states that
she has been extremely busy. Consistently working, she became a facet behind the scenes,
has appeared in several religious plays and has traveled the country as a motivational
speaker and lecturer.
Currently, she is promoting her latest project, Situations 101: Relationships-The Good, The
Bad…and The Ugly. In the book, she listed, you’ve guessed it, 101 situations that people
could possibly go through while dating or in committed relationships and offering her advice.
And she covered it all, from DL brothers to baby mama drama. The approach she took with
the book was what I expected from her: very understanding, far from condescending but
tough love all rolled into one.
She tells BSL why she wrote Situations 101:
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Bern Nadette Stanis
THE BLACK SPOTLIGHT
Shining A Light on African American Entertainment & Culture